The Most Searched Skincare Term Of The Year

Activated charcoal – the secret ingredient people are using to disarm dirt, grime, and their pores. It’s now in every natural beauty, cleaning, and skincare product imaginable. The ever-popular charcoal mask was Google’s most searched skincare term in 2017 … but with so many brands how do you choose?

Charcoal can be made from just about anything, including some not-so-pleasant ingredients like bone char, so it’s important to pay attention to exactly what type of charcoal you’re buying.

Our favorite charcoal aficionados are our friends at Morihata, a husband and wife team committed to sharing the modern Japanese sensibility of quality and craftsmanship.

We trust them completely for everything charcoal related and you’ll see why

The Purest Charcoal:

Binchotan charcoal is noted to be the purest and most effective form of charcoal made from Ubame oak. It originates from the Edo era in Japan, specifically from a town in Wakayama called Tanabe. It’s the only type of charcoal used in every Morihata product.

If you’re looking for charcoal in its simplest form, they carry pure charcoal bits that are perfect for natural water purifying. By simply adding them to water, the thousands of microscopic cavities left in the wood effortlessly remove unwanted toxins and impurities while softening and improving water’s taste.

After about 3 months or so, they become the perfect natural soil fertilizer to throw in your garden or sprinkle amongst your houseplants!

The 3-in-1:

Most of the charcoal claims revolve around its absorptive property – it can make your pores smaller, gently exfoliate your skin, and remove impurities or irritations in a snap.

This mask and cleanser has other fantastic ingredients like collagen and hyaluronic acid (two big players for plumpness and hydration in the beauty community) to make sure your skin is fully replenished after the deep clean.

The New Cleanser:

Soap gets a bad rap due to marketing fallouts, conventional bar soap ingredients, and the ever-present idea that a film will be left on your skin.

That deep-seeded tale derives from a reaction that occurs between water and a hydroxide found in highly synthetic soaps and detergents. So just find yourself a soap with natural ingredients, and then there’s no reason to fret.

This facial soap has one of the cleanest ingredient lists we’ve ever seen!

The Sensitive-skin Savior:

This physical exfoliant is the perfect tool to brighten sensitive skin, plus it’s plant-based and biodegradable. Use it to cleanse the skin with or without a cleanser for a deep clean – and say goodbye to harsh scrubs!

Shh, this is a Lekker secret weapon used religiously by half the team, we sell them by the case pack to some of our friends, and it’s our go-to gift.

The Dual Exfoliator:

Another physical exfoliator, but this is meant specifically for the body – the fibers of the towel are infused with their pure charcoal, and has a soft and coarse side depending on your skin type.

No messy body scrubs needed.

The Toothpaste Alternative:

Another product infused with charcoal that can reduce your beauty footprint is a charcoal toothbrush. It naturally deodorizes your mouth and is a master at plaque removal and whitening. Even better – the charcoal helps prevent bacteria from growing on the toothbrush.

If you’re not completely on board with adding black toothpaste to your beauty routine, this is your best alternative.

The Design-Minded Air Freshener:

This cube has been causing quite a scene online – because it’s as environmentally friendly as an air purifier can get. We love it for its function and also for its design, coming in both an oak and walnut base.

It absorbs odors and moisture in an area of up to 17 sq. ft, so add this to your bathroom, fridge, or closet. The only maintenance involved with the cube is to expose it to direct sunlight for at least six hours each month, helping release all the odors and trapped moisture.

If you haven’t gotten the hint, your charcoal products should follow suit with the philosophy for most other products in your life: contain the fewest ingredients possible.